Chapter 24
1785 Words
Jay Dallas POV
I went over our plan in my head again and again. Castiel, Allen and I were going to run into the Bloodbath together and cover each other as we gathered supplies. We'd form a loose ring around Sky, who would go for the things she needed to make bombs. Barley was assigned to be her guard until the Bloodbath was over. Some of us probably wouldn't make it through, and I didn't know how I'd react if someone went for one of my allies. It had to be every man for himself in the Games. Alliances were made if each member thought it improved their chances.
We didn't know what would happen after the Bloodbath. It depended on who was still alive. If Sky was there, our strategy would be more subtle and we would attack the Careers remotely. If she wasn't, it was up to the rest of us to overpower them.
In twelve hours I'd be fighting for my life. The thought kept coming back, interrupting my plans and giving me chills every time. It was two in the morning. I should have been sleeping, but I watched the clock shift as the minutes went by. I wanted to grab each one and never let it go. I felt like I was wasting the time I had left and I regretted every second that slipped by. My fate was drawing nearer and when it came, I'd look back on this time and never have it again. Time kept moving, and I dreaded it more and more.
Estrella Vasquez POV
"See you soon," Priscilla said. She checked under her nails and started to stretch.
"I do hope you realize the Arena will not be a comedy club," I said. Priscilla was good, but good wasn't enough. She had to be ruthless, too, and she hadn't shown it yet.
"If I tell someone a joke while I kill them, they'll still be dead," she said. "A Victor kills people, but a great Victor does it with style."
"As long as you get it done, do it however you want," I said. Priscilla climbed into the tube. As it rose, she cracked her knuckles and smiled at me. I gave her a hard time, but I was rooting for her. A girl like that will give the Victors circle some color.
Pray Jager POV
Alex and Margo opted to stay in the same room until they got into the tubes, so I was able to see them both off. Alex offered Margo his hand, and she shook it.
"If I don't win, bring it home for Two," he said.
"See you at the final Two. The better Tribute will win," she replied. Any advice I had for them, I'd already given. They didn't need much. For Two, mentors were almost a formality. Still, my blood stirred. No matter how little I had to do with it, the old thrill of seeing new Tributes tread ground I'd covered years before always fired me up. I lived vicariously through them, and it made the dullness of the rest of the year worthwhile. That and Rudolph, and with my mentoring duties largely over, I'd be able to spend a little more quality time with him. Things were looking up.
Acee Hal POV
Emmeline was hyperventilating. I urged her to take long, deep breaths. Her pupils were dilated and her skin was covered in gooseflesh.
"It's all right. You know what to do. You can do it, just like me," I said. She tucked her hair behind her ear and watched the tubes come down. Wyatt tried to catch her eye and started clowning around with the leftover makeup from the stylists. She laughed a shaky laugh that warded off tears.
"Use what you find and you'll find what you need," I offered her in parting. To Wyatt I could only say one thing.
"Make them laugh."
Shelle McDan POV
"Last chance. Need anything before you go?" I asked. I reached into a cooler and grabbed two energy drinks. Vera reached out for one, but Whyte interrupted.
"You know what happens when we drink those," he said.
"Yeah. We'd be two juggernauts in the Bloodbath and then spend the rest of the day napping," she agreed. Whyte took a capsule out of his pocket.
"They won't let us have these in the Arena. Should we take some before we go?" he asked Vera.
"I can't risk the side effects," she said as she shook her head.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Ready to give it a try," she said.
"You try, you fail. You try, you fail. But the only real failure is when you stop trying," Whyte said.
"Woah, that was deep," Vera said. The tubes clicked into place. "See you in the Bloodbath."
Erwin Jackson POV
Adair was shaking like a leaf. I was impressed he was holding back his tears, but I knew it wouldn't last long. He'd die like all the others, murdered by the Capitol. Then I could go home and try to forget about it. He didn't say anything as we waited for the tubes, and I let the silence linger.
The tube slid down, and Adair started to get up. He froze halfway there and looked back at me in supplication.
"Go on," I said. He saw there would be no sympathy and resignedly continued. Just before the tube began to rise, he started to say something.
"Tell-" he trailed off.
"What?" I said curtly.
"Tell Aurora I did my best," he said. Before I could ask him how he knew my daughter, he was gone.
Toby Cash POV
"Could you tell my family I'm sorry?" Hermes asked. He brushed away tears as he looked down at the floor.
"If I have to. Maybe I won't," I managed to say. I wished I could give him encouragement or hope, but I didn't have any either. Hermes started to shake as the tube came into view. He stood inside it and wrapped his arms around himself. He was halfway out of sight when I lost it. I sank down against the wall and knelt as I wept. Now I understood why my mentor was like she was. She was right all along. Wherever she was, I wanted to go there too.
Sequoia Wilson
"I'm sorry I was so mean," Myrtle said. Her eyes were round as coins and she held herself as she sat on the edge of her bench. "I'm so scared," she whispered.
"It's all right," I said. Myrtle was rude, but she wasn't a monster. This was no time for grudges. Right now, she was a scared little girl. We'd all been there, and we'd all done things we couldn't ask to be forgiven for. I couldn't deny her the forgiveness I often sought myself.
"Why does it have to be like this?" she asked. None of us had an answer.
Tillo Peters POV
I didn't bother to see Haber off. There was nothing redeemable about her, and Panem would be better off without her. I knew it was still wrong for her to die, but I found it impossible to care. If that terror managed to net any sponsors, I planned to unfortunately overlook them. For my part, I hoped Ryker or really anyone else won. Maybe not the Careers- they wasted their freedom learning to kill- but just about anyone else. In the end, I hardly cared at all. I didn't ask to be a mentor and I didn't ask for any involvement in the Games. I'd do what the Capitol compelled, but outside of that, I washed my hands of the whole affair.
Chimera Ilium POV
"Are you ready to win?" I asked Barley and Dominique.
"I guess," Barley said. He shuffled a foot on the floor.
"I hope so," Dominique said. They certainly weren't very enthusiastic. This was going to be an adventure! They were going to live off the land and struggle for survival! You'd think they weren't even excited.
Cornflower Fields POV
"Do you know Lena?" Castiel asked me. "She's a Victor."
"The quiet one?" I asked. "She draws a lot."
"That's her. If I don't come back, you should see her once in a while. She's alone," he said. Who, me? If you need a friend, I'm the last person you should ask.
"I'll try," I said. Castiel turned away and I was relieved the conversation was over. Serena, meanwhile, was crying on her bench, and I was hoping she wouldn't notice me. She needed Fluvius, but he wasn't allowed in the tube room. I counted the ceiling tiles until they got into their tubes and vanished.
Peppermint Wilson POV
Orchard was probably sending Jay off with a few last tips. Here I was doing my best to catch up to her and bring home a mentee of my own, and she was probably going to get another before I even got one.
"You should stay hidden," Pepper said to empty air.
"What? Me?" I asked. What's she going on about? Pepper didn't answer. That was it.
"Girl, who the heck are you talking to?" I asked.
"That guy," she said. She pointed at nothing. Aw great, is the Games Center haunted? I guess it would be more surprising if it wasn't.
"You know what, just get in the tube," I said. "Do your best, win, talk to ghosts all you want." As soon as she was out of sight I darted out of the room. I ain't dealing with no ghosts.
Demi Bottle POV
"I brought some candy for while you wait," I said as I pointed at the bowl of sweets.
"Thanks," Elara said. She took a bar and started eating it. She looked so much healthier than when I'd first seen her. Did the Capitol and Twelve live that differently?
"I'm sorry you have to go through this," I said after a moment's pause. It isn't... right." Immediately I regretted it, and I looked around in case Peacekeepers came rushing in to arrest me. I don't know what got into me.
"I thought all Capitolites were spoiled brats. You're all right," Elara said. She shuddered when she heard the tube come down. Me, I nearly burst into tears. I couldn't believe how brave she was to still be able to talk at this point. As she rose out of sight, I saw the tears shining in her eyes. I prayed she came back. If all Twelve has is me, Victors are going to be rare indeed.
Now we get to the part we've all been waiting for. This means I actually have to decide who to kill. Cross your fingers.
- Writer
